The reviews of the Spot and Spot Messenger that I read, on Amazon for example, are terrible with regard to Spot reliability, customer service, and the company's ethics in rebilling, etc.

Do the SPOT users here have this kind of negative experience with SPOT?

If you're doing TDR, you don't seem to have much choice other than going sans SPOT, but it would be interesting to hear what others are really experiencing.

Thanks

I have problems with my spot. Placed on the bar near the etrex 30, my gps don't work.

With wireless cyclocomputer i'have Never tried, but I try soon with cateye or sigma sport....

I've read elsewhere, on here I think, that the two gps's will conflict.  That's why some people put the Spot in a mesh bag on top of their seat bag, or elsewhere removed.

Flounder ...

Is this ThermaRest sold?  How about the Bob trailer from back when?

Thx.  B i l l @ P e s c h k a . u s

Marco,

Go to the google doc spreadsheet and make your own entry.

Hello Christopher, I sent my LOI in December, but I do not see my name written in this file ... can you tell me how to "formalize" my presence for the grand depart in June? can you help me for this?

will my first experience at GTD, but I have accumulated several hours in the saddle (06/12/24 hour races, and race the hellas trans mountains in greece, 465km/14'500m of elevation gain one stage/non-stop in 39 hours)
my goal is to finish the great divide tour in 18 days (or less) with my fantastic salsa fargo...
I have seen many interesting topics in these topics, I will have many things to get ideas!

thanx
Marco from Italy

This should be a direct link to the list of water sources that AZTripper posted on 2/15/2011

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,1832.msg16841.html#msg16841

Last year I posted a water table for the 750 from a bike route rather then hiker perspective. It's on page one http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,1832.0.html

Note: people did find water in places I didn't have listed. I think it's in Jill's blog that she found Oak Spring near where the Race Course rejoins the AZT south of Pine. From the edge of Payson it's 18 track miles to Oak Spring.

Not that every rider used everyone you'll figure that out as you go thru the list and see how far apart everything is. Slower rider use more then the faster guys of course it's a mater of how much time you want to spend refilling vs how much are you willing to carry.

I'm the proud owner of a new Ogre.  It's running Specialized Captain Armadillo Elite; 2.2 on front, 2.0 on rear.  They came recommended to me by my LBS guys and I see them reviewed here on bikepacking.net.  I plan to wear out a set of tires before TD in June and hope I'll just be replacing with another set of same.

Here's the link to the info on this site:

http://www.bikepacking.net/reviews/bike-components/specialized-captain-armadillo-elite-tires/

Do most riders use the Adventure Cycling maps?  Is there a new set of maps for 2013 plus it's addenda, if so when does it come out during the year or should a rider go ahead and buy them now?  I have noticed gps tracks on sites

I inquired at ACA a couple of months ago as to whether new maps will come out before June '13 for the Great Divide Route.  They replied that there won't be new maps before June;  the current maps plus addenda will be what to use. 

I ordered mine and got maps plus addenda to date.  I'll check the ACA website for latest addenda again before June start data.

As an aside, I've been thinking of ordering the text narrative and now wonder if they're updated for addenda or not.  Will have to contact ACA to find out.  Dont' know what value they would be but an willing to risk $5 or so to look at them.

The people in that part of the country are pretty friendly.

It's not inconceivable to think that you could hitch a ride with a northbound vehicle, depending on time of day.  The port of entry isn't open 24 hrs.  You might have to put your bike and maybe yourself in the back of a pickup.

Just don't get in the trunk of a car or into a UHaul truck if there's already 20 people in there.  They might not be legal. ;}

12/31/12
Note: I believe I should have posted this in the TD 2013 sub topic.  If there's an admin around, perhaps you can move it?  Thanks
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Separ, NM is about the last sign of civilization in NM, before the last run to Antelope Wells. (as you cross I-10).  

I was passing by there today and stopped in to check out the only business in Separ.  It's a Bowlin's, a gift/curio/fireworks shop with a little mostly junk food and drink.  It's not open very late and I was curious about the availability of water if one is passing through there after dark.  I located a faucet at the farthest West corner of the Bowlin's retail bldg.  This is about the last shot for water before Antelope Wells, unless you find a windmill or stock tank.

For those that are reading in the States and looking for a mid weight penny pincher check out JCPenny's Down Puffer jacket.  It is 650 wt. down fill.  I've used it with a basic base layer alone in ~35 deg F riding and had to vent it from the front zipper (no pit zips).  It's not the highest construction and has a somewhat goofy fit that you need to try on first.  Not sure on durability yet.  I usually wear large, but I had to get an XL for the shoulders.  Anyway, they are on clearance right now for $30 and were originally only $60.

Maybe this will help someone out that is really short on cash and wants a basic down jacket to try out.  That's my reason for my purchase.

+1

My wife had tried to order one of these last week, then had shopping cart problems that made it look like they were out of stock.  I looked today on a PC an they're still there.  Just ordered one for TD in June.  I think/hope it will be a good layer.  For $30, I can leave it in Pie Town or Silver City if I don't really want to carry it. 

If you spend $50 at JCP, shipping is free.  You can also get free shipping by shipping to and picking up from a local store.

This looks like a great deal, but before you get too excited ... as noted below, the offer was only good thru the 24th.

OP

Check your PM inbox re this ad.  Thanks

<snip>

Pretty sure there's a PO right at the south rim or in Tusayan right out side the Park.

</snip>

The USPS website shows a post office at Tusayan and in Grand Canyon Village.  It looks like the one is Tusayan is a contract station.  The Grand Canyon Village one is definitely more convenient to the South Rim.  If you're mailing a box up there, make sure you get the correct address as they both have the zip code of 86023.  See:  https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorAction_input?address=86023

If you don't draft or share gears and stick to the route, the company of other riders should be OK as stated in the rules. Don't forget you are the sole power that moves your bike, nobody else is doing it for you. Mathew's rules are easy to understand. I think his intent was to have the best personal challenge you can have on your own.
I was seriously thinking about being a starter next year but with all this rule stuff is taking the fun out of it. Riders need to accept the challenge, be honest and ride the divide, it's that simple.
BTW Great ride Fixie Dave… that's the spirit of the race!
Mario

A good part of ultra anything is mental.  Riding in the company of other(s) is totally different than riding by yourself.  At least one other factor is navigation.  When you're alone it's up to you.  When you're in a group, you can't tell me there's not group influence in navigation decisions.  A rookie who's riding with a veteran has a totally different race than the same rookie riding and navigating on their own.

It's looking like there should be two categories for a rider to opt in to.  One, called the Tour, with no restrictions on doing it on your own.  Ride together with someone your care for, share the adventure, etc.  Do whatever you want.  The other, called the Race, where the current rules are observed ... do it on your own as is the original concept.

just my thoughts:
2 people, who care for each other, sharing an adventure like this is absolutely awesome (wether on a tandem or not) and you, as a dot-follower, asking them to be scrapped from the results for that very same reason is very unrespectful and 'not done'.

Thanks for the analysis, Amy.  Something I find telling is the time spent moving vs time stopped.  Ollie shows 11 days moving, 4 days stopped.  Ezster: 14 days rolling, 5 days stopped.  The early finishers all/most seemed to have high ratios of time moving to time stopped.  If you look farther back, you'll see ratios like 1:2 or nearly 1:3.  I think in ultra events Time On Bike is as important as avg mph when rolling.  You can be a stud/studette but get nowhere if you're not on the bike.

I just did a tally of the status of all 95 people who were started in the Banff SoBo Grand Depart.  I may be off in a few of the details, it's a little hard to keep track of it all, but I think it's pretty close.

[snip]

Wondering the same. He should have backtracked to the route but continued on 15.

He'll intersect the course in less than 10 miles if he doesn't figure it out and back track.  If he went to the Lake Roberts store to resupply, he should have gone backwards from there to get back to course.  Or, he just missed that turn off of 35 before Lake Roberts.  Regardless, I hope he figures it out soon before he puts in too many unnecessary miles.

I see that Eszter is down to less than 30 miles.  Should be finishing anytime, now.  What a strong ride.  Breaking the women's record by days (plural).

Can someone tell me where I can get the kml file to use with Google Earth? 

TIA

To get to the next level of detail, download the .GPX track and manipulate it in a GPS software program like Topofusion Pro. You can always get the KML file and play with it in Google Earth.
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